It is interesting to browse through the council minutes over the years and see some of the changes highlighted.  For example, Christmas 1953 saw 50 food parcels distributed to the needy ‑ the summer camp of 1954 was financed by a levy of 2s. 6d. on the District membership charge.  Immeasurable efforts of all kinds, some forgotten, others still continuing, appear in the minutes: aged men's parties, crippled children's parties and outings, a hobbies and careers exhibition, transport for the blind, transport for the disabled, 'Peep‑holes', emergency packs, the Scouts, the launching of the Probus Club and so on and so on, the list is seemingly endless.

Above all are the truly ambitious and highly successful ventures ‑ Serenga (which aroused interest and eventually help from well beyond Radcliffe), Abbeyfields, a subject that we returned to in our Diamond Jubilee Year, aswell as the hospices, St Ann's at Little Hulton and the Bury Hospice which is situated here in Radcliffe on the Bealy Hospital site.  All the projects undertaken, no matter how small or large, should not only give us pride in the past achievements of the Club.  They should constitute a spur to the present and future membership of the Club to offer even greater endeavour in order to achieve continued acts of service to the community of Radcliffe and to the disadvantaged people of the world. ‑  Bold decisions have been taken and acted upon, to the real and lasting benefit of the town and beyond.

There is of course a lighter side to some of the minutes as when at an early meeting of the Fellowship Committee it was reported ‑ "Visited a sick member, but he was out".  Many years ago it was suggested in an American Rotary Club Bulletin that there were ten stages in the rise and fall of any social organisation of which the sixth was success, the seventh conservatism to guard the success, the eighth was timidity lest some change be made, the ninth progressive dry rot, and the tenth can be guessed.  If this poses a real threat to the picture of this Rotary Club, the answer must be the continued success of it's purpose.  Fellowship must surely depend on the numbers of members not reaching a point when it becomes mere acquaintance, yet at the same time, the introduction of 'new blood' must continue but not, one may hope, by hastening the departure of the ancients.

At the Club's 21st Anniversary the then chronicler asked "What account can we give of our stewardship?  Can we, as the responsible body, look the four objects of Rotary in the eye and say in all truth that we have honoured them to the letter?"  Whatever the answer to these questions, it has to be said by men who have grown old in the service of Rotary, that the Rotary Club of Radcliffe, like good wine, has mellowed with the passing of time.  One feels that with the coming and going of each year we have witnessed a gradual yet persistent awakening of Rotary consciousness.

In reviewing the list of Presidents who have led this club over 60 years it becomes very obvious that we have been led by many of the towns leading members of industry, commerce, the professions and other occupations. Each President has brought with him his own style of leadership along with the experience and benefits of his vocation.  Most have served for a single year.  However, two Presidents served for a second consecutive year, our founder President Reg Clayton and J Smith.  The fact that he was the inaugural President is probably the reason that Reg Clayton went on for a second year and the circumstances of war time Britain was more likely the reason for Past President, Smith continuing to hold the seat for two years.  In recent years our membership has declined and three more of our members have served a second term as President.  They are Rtn. Thomas Johnston PHF, Rtn. Don Greenhalgh PHF and our current President Rtn. Michael R Edwards. We also still have our 50th President Graham Taylor as a serving member of the Club and in all there are thirteen Past Presidents who continue in club membership.

By the end of the year 2005 those thirteen members will have seen one of Rotary's finest achievements fulfilled; the elimination of Poliomyelitis from the world.  In 1985, Rotary launched the PolioPlus programme to protect children worldwide from the cruel and fatal consequences of polio. In 1988, the World Health Assembly challenged the world to eradicate polio. Since that time, Rotary's efforts and those of partner agencies, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and governments around the world, have achieved a 99 percent reduction in the number of polio cases worldwide.

Rotarians stand at the brink of a great victory and look forward to celebrating the global eradication of polio in 2005, Rotary International's centenary  year. In 1985 the club raised the magnificent sum of ,10,000 to help finance this programme and followed up by raising  a further ,5,000 in 2003 to finance the final push towards the elimination of Polio.

The passing of time coupled with the rise and fall of services being provided at the various venues  has meant that our weekly meeting places have had to change, not always for the best or so it would seem.  The very first meeting of the Club was at the Boar's Head Hotel and during the ensuing years we were to come and go to this establishment for two more terms, the last of which cost the Club dearly.  For one reason or another several members objected to the move, others took the opportunity to make their break with the Club.  Most were Past Presidents and it was therefore with considerable regret that their resignations were accepted.  Overnight the membership fell by almost 25%.  In fact, when we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary, just twenty years ago, we had 46 members and three Honorary Members, today we are just 23 with only 8 of the 49 who celebrated the 50th Anniversary year remaining.

From it's formation in 1933 right up to 1988, it's 55th year, the Club had not presented a Paul Harris Fellowship.  It was perhaps therefore, appropriate that the very first presentation of a 'Paul Harris Fellowship' by The Rotary Club of Radcliffe should be awarded to long serving member and Past President Rtn. Harry Fox who had completed 50 years of 'service Above self ' to Rotary.  The second was to Rtn. Graham West in 1991.  Graham too had also served Rotary for a substantial period and like Harry was a past President of The Rotary Club of Radcliffe.  Since then four Paul Harris Fellowships have been awarded; Rtn. Thomas Johnston was given his for Service to The Life Education Trust.  Rtn. Edgar Whewell received a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1997 for a life time of service to youth and the establishment of the Burrs Country Park in Bury. He alone had identified the opportunity to turn derelict land into a place of recreation which will serve the Metropolitan community of Bury for many years to come. Our next Paul Harris award went to long serving a twice President of the club Rtn. Donald Greenhalgh.  The last Paul Harris Fellowship was awarded only recently to Past President Rtn. David K Ainsworth who in the 71st year of the club became our District Governor.  The award was Presented by President Rtn. Michael R Edwards at the 71st Charter Celebration Dinner in November 2004.

With each year that passes the Rotary Club of Radcliffe continues to support a host of causes both at home and abroad both by the raising of funds and the giving of our time and energies to help others. In doing so we have brought relief to people in great need and we have lived up to Rotary's motto of 'Service Above Self'.